Christmas return for ballet dancer

David Brewer, 19, plays the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol which is touring across the country.

The young dancer grew up in Luton and honed his talents with teachers Louise Sheaves in Harpenden and Stephanie Ledger in St Albans, and now works for Ballet Theatre UK.

He recently moved to Hinckley in Leicester, and says performing A Christmas Carol at The Grove Theatre, Dunstable, will feel like a homecoming.

The show has all the traditional elements of the story of Scrooge and his ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

There are no speaking parts in the show but the tale is told through the medium of dance and drama.

David said: “It’s really good to have an opportunity to dance this role and carry a show. As we’re a small company we multi-role, so I’m also playing Scrooge’s nephew and the younger Scrooge in the show.

“It’s got all the usual bits of the story told in ballet form. It gets a little scary in parts but the director Christopher Moore has made sure it’s also got a lot of heart to it.”

This is one of David’s first major roles, having performed in Sleeping Beauty in the spring, and danced smaller parts in shows while training.

He started dancing when he was very young as his mother Helen Brewer is a dance teacher.

David said: “Mum started getting me involved in dancing to keep me out of trouble and keep me quiet.

“It was when I went to at The Royal Ballet School that I really got my head down and started to think of ballet as a career.”

After his time at The Royal, David completed his training at Tring Park School for the performing arts before getting a contract with Ballet Theatre UK.

The former Hollybush Road resident said: “Sometimes it’s very tough as the job is so physically demanding but I do love it. There’s a lot of pressure in rehearsals but once you are performing that pressure disappears because you immerse yourself in the role. It’s great, especially when people I know from the area come and watch. This really does feel like a homecoming.”

Ballet Theatre UK was founded by artistic director Christopher Moore and A Christmas Carol is touring from October 19 - December 23.

David will bring the show to The Grove Theatre in Dunstable on December 1.

For tickets call the box office on 01582 602080.